Staff Report
Buellton artist Lenore Tolegian Hughes will display her art in the Pritzlaff Conservation Center Gallery at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, through March 31.
Through her artworks, Hughes tells the story of “The Reason for the Seasons” as described in Greek mythology. She illustrates the power of love — its ecstasy and its pain — in an exhibition of visual art based on the love of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and harvest, for her daughter, Persephone.
Demeter’s love brings on fall and winter when Persephone descends to Hades for half the year, and spring and summer when she returns. The relation of the goddess’s love to the seasons is depicted in a series of watercolor portraits in which the ecstatic faces of mother and daughter morph into and intertwine with the delights of spring and summer, and their agonized faces become one with the loss that is fall and winter.
Also in the exhibition is a collection of lush and saturated watercolor collages of florals capturing the mood of spring and summer.
Hughes’ work designing the Children’s Maze and Wooded Dell at the garden, combined with her fascination with mythology, inspired this exhibit of watercolors and collages. All art work is for sale with a portion of proceeds to benefit the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
Access to the Pritzlaff Conservation Center Gallery is free with paid admission to the garden, which is open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On Thursday, Dec. 6, guests will have the opportunity to meet the artist in the gallery for an opening reception. Light refreshments will be served. RSVPs are required at sbbg.org or by calling 805-682-4726, ext. 102.
